Mumbai blasts: Damaged coaches to be repaired

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August 11, 2006 16:20 IST

The seven first class compartments, which were ripped apart in the serial blasts of July 11 are awaiting a facelift at Mahalaxmi car shed in Central Mumbai, according to Western Railway sources.

A feasibility study was conducted of the damaged compartments by the engineers at Mahalaxmi car shed and a decision was taken to repair them, they added.

"We carried out a feasibility study and found that the coaches are in a position to be repaired and the repair cost will be much less than new coaches," Sanjay Phulwaria, senior divisional engineer of the Western Railway said.

"However, since our coaches carry people more than their capacities, we have called for experts from the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory to assess as to what kind of modifications are required," Phulwaria told PTI.

The 'machines' of the coaches are in good shape and help from ICF will be taken to put them on track, he said.

"Initially, we will repair one coach and see its worthiness and then take up rest for repair," Phulwaria said.

New coaches cost Rs 40 lakh to 50 lakh each, while the repair will be less than one fifth of it approximately, he added.

The first class compartments were severely damaged in the blasts, which had killed 200 people and left nearly 700 injured.

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